Starting cage for racing animals



Sept. 20, 1932. J, F, wHn-E 1,878,218

STARTING CASTE FDR RACING ANIMALS Original Filld Feb. 9. 1927 l@ J8 J719.1 J5

Patented Sept. Z0, 1.932

J' OHN F. WHITE, 0F CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS STARTING CAGE FOR RACING ANIMALS Application led February 9,1927, Seri My invention concerns advancements in the construction ofdoor or gate releasing means for compartments or spaces accommodatingracing dogs in which they are housed prelimi nary to their release forparticipation in the race.

One object of the invention is to provide a structure of this character,which is simple in design, which operates effectively and etfi-`ciently, and which can be manufactured at relatively small expense.

To permit those skilled in this art to fully understand this inventionboth from structural and functional standpoints, desirable and preferredembodiments of the same have been illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing forming a part of this specification and throughout the severalviews of which for simplicity like reference characters have beenemployed for the same parts.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of theimproved starting cage;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of one of the chains showing one ofthe links capable of adjustment to vary its length;

Figure y3 1s a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the structure shownin Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary'plan view on an enlarged scale of a part ofthe dooroperating mechanism;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale through the hingeportions o two adjacent doors; an

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizont-al section illustrating the lockingmeans for the doors.

Referring to this drawing, it will be seen that the multiple-compartmentstarting cage has back doors 10, a bottom wall 11` and a top wall 12,its several.. dog-housing compartments being supplied at the front ofthe structure with a plurality of doors 13, 14. 15, 16, etc. arranged inpairs, as shown, one door being employed for each cage.

In order that the animals accommodated in such cages may view therace-course, the lower portions of such doors are preferably suppliedwith wired glass affording the view indicated.

Each such door laissais Tusr PATENT oFFlc- Y ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HARRYB. STAVER, OF CHICAGO,v

ai No. 166,942. Renewed Mayas, 1932.

at onevupright edge has a vertically-arranged hinge-shaft 17journaled'at the top and bottom of the cage and door also has a pair of upper andlower metal@ straps 18 bent at 19 around the corresponding' hinge-shaft,as shown in Figure 5, and extending across door, being securely fa thefront and back faces of the stenedto the latter by vrivets 21 andsimilarly secured to the hinge shaft by pins or rivets is properlymounted on its hinge-s As is clearly shown,

doors are arranged close together and the top ends two adj acent.4

bent to form are connected by coiled or plate 26 on the back of thestructure. Obviously,

confined in their cages til it is desired to open them to diverging armsthese springs, act, will quickly swing all releasing participation inthe race.

22, whereby each door haft. the hinge-shafts of 23 and 24 which springs25 to a bracket the top portion of if permitted 4to the caged animalsclosed with the dogs of the `doors tov or compartments, un-..-

mals, a plurality of vertically-slidable locking-bars 29, protrudingends of the are accommodated in upright members 27 doors and also at thecages.

These bars 29 are 29 ,are provided to overlap the hinge-straps 18'whichbetween the pairs of outer sides ofthe end slidingly mounted l'in placeby screw and slot connections 31, 31 and they have properlypositionedrecesses 32, 32 in their edges bars 18 andrtheir into register withdesigned to release the doors when they are raised the ends of theformer, all

as will be readily understood.

All of such bars 29,

at their kupper ends,

are connected by chains 33, each havingy a link 34 adjustable as tolength, to arms 35 fixed on a. shaft 36 oscillatory in bearings 37 anddisposed lengthwise the row. of cages,

at the ltop thereof, such.

having an Then'all of the doors have beenclosed 5and locked in ofthebars 29, they w that position by vthe descent ill be retained in suchrecesses 28, 28 in the l shaft at one end Y appropriate operating handle38.

' means of its han forth without departure condition thus confining thedogs in their several ad'acent cages.

When t e right time arrives for releasmg the animals, the o rator rocksthe shaft by e lifting or elevating the bars 29 and freeing the doorswhich swing open quickly under the action of their springs, thusliberating the dogs which 1mmediately share in the race.-

If the chains are ent is to be inion one or more dogs, the answering orchains 1s or are made lon r byl or time delay Ior im posed chain ofequal length, the doors l will open simultaneously?, but if a handicapand an oscillatory bar to shift the la shaft connected with said tterinto a dposition where in it does not overlap said oor portions.

In witness wher hand and seal.

adjustment ofI the 'extensible link or llnks 34 I andthe associated cage`door or doors will open correspondingly later and by this means a moreeven and'i. uniform race can be had between dogs ofdii'erent abilities.

Inyorder. to limit doors-during this lopening action, each set ofbentwarms 23 and 24 is provided on the top of the structure mentelement.v 39 adapted to strike open. I

Many minor mechanical changes may be incorporated in the structuresherein set when the doors are fully essenceaof this invention as definedb the appended claims and without the sacrilihe of auf of its materialbenefits and advantages.

claim Y n l 1. In an lapparatus of the character described, a pluralityof separate doors pivoted to swing forwardly in opening, sprin meanstending to swing the doors open, an av shiftably mounted bar arranged tooverportions of the doors adjacent the free la -edlglres of the latterto prevent the doors from swmging open, said bar being shiftable into aposition wherein it does not overlap said oor portions, whereby torelease the doors and permit the spring means to swing the latter open.4

2. 'In an apparatus of the character degfllfscribed, a plurality ofpairs of separate doors *pivoted to swing wherein they do not overlap fjscribed,V a plu 'to swing'forwardly in opening,

forwardlyin opening, said the movements of the i with a fixed block orabutagainst which they are from the heart 'and door pairs belng somounted that the free eof I have hereunto set my `JOHN F.

